Number 8

I have resurrected Swoon!  Block 8 is done.  I can't believe I ignored it for so long because it only took me 30 minutes to finish getting it together.  I did have to do some un-sewing as soon as I was done with it because I had sewn one of the sections upside down.  Oh I was soooo mad!  I un-sewed and put it down for the night.  I quickly threw it through the sewing machine the next morning and all is well.

FQs for block 9 (last block!) have been pressed and they are ready to be dissected.  I solemnly swear that the next time you see Swoon, it will be a completed top!

Enjoy your day!

Jen :)

Where does the time go?

It's been a while since I've posted and I didn't even realize it.  Things have been busy over here.  I've been working to get a bunch of things finished so that I'm not stressing, getting the laundry done that I like to ignore (sheets, towels).... there is a reason why I own 8 sets of sheets for my bed and have 30 towels and wash cloths!  LOL! 

Some good no GREAT news came my way a couple of weeks ago.  I'm super excited and super nervous at the same time.  I GOT A JOB!!!  WOOHOOOOO!!  As much as I was enjoying my time at home these last 6 months, money has been super tight.  So I start a new full-time job on Monday.  I need some good vibes my way on Monday, okay?

Onto some other things.  On Monday, my aunt and grandmother came over and we had a "Pierogi Making" lesson.  Only my aunt and grandmother know the recipe and process.  My cousin has no desire to learn how to make them so I stepped up.  4 hour lesson and I have 15 dozen pierogi in my freezer.  Homemade.  YUM YUM!!  Now, I would like to post the recipe and I can for the filling but for the dough?  I have no measurements.  It's all by look and feel and I had my grandmother coaching me all the way.  But at least I know what to look for.  Here are a couple of snapshots from my lesson.

Grandma hard at work, rolling and cutting dough rounds

My batch before getting boiled

13 dozen - cooling for the freezer

I finally finished Amelia's "Amelia" quilt top.  Finally.  Now I can get backing for it and get it quilted so that I can give it to her for Christmas.

One last thing.  Ellyn received her chickens so I can post them here.  She and I had a mini swap and I made her a little chicken family.

Cute chickens!

I've also sent out my Santa Sack Swap gifts for September and October yesterday.  Melissa - be on the lookout for the box! 

Amelia is going to be home from school soon and I have to get a light dinner ready for her so that she won't be starving at her Karate class. 

Enjoy your day!
Jen

Amelia's Bennington

Slowly I've been working on blocks for Amelia's next lap quilt.  Amelia picked "Bennington" out of the Schnibbles Times Two book and I'm using "Amelia" layer cakes of course.

I have 10 more blocks to make.  This one is slow going for me.  And then I have to make the scrappy border.  The block is super easy to make.  Not sure why I'm putzing along with them.

Anyhoo... here are the blocks that are done so far.

not the final layout.  ;)

Now that I'm looking at these blocks, one is bothering me.

Do you see it?  I made a note above in the picture.  It's a black with white dots.  And it's the ONLY solid black in the quilt.  There are some white with black dots in the quilt but they don't stand out like a sore thumb. 

Yup.  I think it needs to go.  What do you think?

Enjoy your day!
Jen

A panel, fat quarters and some yardage

That's what I've been working with.  I bought a flower panel from the Lovely line by Sandy Gervais and some fat quarters to go with it a month ago and forgot all about it.  Found it hiding in my sewing room and pulled it out.  I wasn't quite sure what to do with the panel.  I did a little mental brainstorming and cut it up.  Added a border around each block and make some coordinating 9 patch blocks and here you go!

What I haven't decided is how to big to make this quilt.  It will be going to Punkie.  She called it.  She likes it and wants it for her bed (I think).  I toying with either a 4x6 layout with an outer border for a lap quilt or a 7x8 with a border for her bed.  Either way I need to get a couple more panels.  Fat Quarter Shop has them on clearance for $4.50.  Until I decide and actually order the panels, I will continue making the 9 patch blocks.  Amelia is going to have quite the collection of quilts soon.  I have 4 others that I have fabric for to make quilts for her.  I don't have a single one for myself but Punk has 2 completed quilts, 1 that needs to be quilted, 2 being worked on and 4 waiting in the wings.  What does that add up to?  NINE quilts!  Good thing I love that little girl!

My postage stamp quilt... blocks are done!  Woohoo!!!  I was going to start laying them out and sewing row but my energy level isn't there.  They still have to wait a little longer.  But the blocks are done. 

That's all for now!
Enjoy your day!
Jen

Finished

But not quilted yet.  I just got the final border on my Sweet Pea top.  Love!

Pattern - Sweet Pea.  Fabric - Sanibel.  Both by Anka's Treasures

The colors just scream ME.  Seriously.  And I love it.  I'm talking myself into quilting this one myself.  Super simple like straight lines.  Nothing fancy.  I can't bare to mess up.  But for now, it will stay a flimsy until I find some backing for it.  I think I'm just going to get a brown of some sort.  Something that I can pick up locally.

Santa Sack Swap... ready to go!  Finally.  Slacker.  Now I have to get myself to the post office.  That will be tomorrow morning's chore.  Once Melissa gets the package and opens the ONE gift, I will show you the sack I made.

I have a few other things to show you but they aren't ready yet.  Amelia is away all weekend long.  She'll be back on Tuesday.  She's headed to NH with my in-laws for the holiday.  Which means that I have allll kinds of sewing time.  I have 4 more projects that are on my list that NEED TO GET DONE this weekend.

I'm going to be busy!
Enjoy your day!
Jen

It needs a name

It's home and I.LOVE.IT!!!  I can't wait to give it to Amelia on Sunday.  I'm talking about Amelia's bed quilt.  Sharon worked her magic again and got the quilt done and back to me before the party.   She did a BEAUTIFUL job with her quilting.  I can't wait to show it off!!!

Amelia isn't home so I quickly put it on her bed this morning and snapped a couple of pictures.  You want to see?

backing.  so pretty

quilting.  close up

Oh boy.  I'm going to say it again.  I love it!  And since I knew it was on its way, I made pillow shams to match!  I used the backing fabric (since I had a ton of it left over) and using a pattern from Heather MP's book, Shams with Style, I made two basic shams.  I did a basic checkerboard quilt pattern.  I like how they came out.

close up of sham

I can't wait to leave it on her bed permanently.  I'll have to hide it and wait until Sunday.  But now it needs a name.  I want to make a label for it but I can't think of anything clever to call it.  Any ideas out there?

Sharon - THANK YOU!  You did a wonderful job and I truly love it!

Enjoy your day!
Jen